Despite years of vocal opposition to skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty, Treyarch has revealed that an increasing number of players are actively choosing to play with strict SBMM when given the option in Black Ops 7.

SBMM has been one of the franchise’s most divisive features since its introduction in 2019’s Modern Warfare. Many high-skilled players argued they were punished for performing well, as strong matches often led to tougher lobbies. Others criticized the system for causing longer matchmaking times and inconsistent ping.

With Black Ops 7, Treyarch introduced a choice: players can queue into Open Matchmaking, where skill is “minimally considered,” or select the Standard Moshpit, which uses strict SBMM.

SBMM playlists grow in popularity

According to the Season 1 patch notes, Treyarch says it has “continued to see increased engagement with Standard Moshpit,” suggesting that SBMM-based playlists are becoming more popular over time.

As a result, the developers plan to feature the Standard Moshpit more prominently in the Featured tab for players who prefer competing against opponents of similar skill. During Season 1, it will be more visible in the menu when selecting a playlist.

That said, all other playlists—including the new Season 1 Moshpit—will continue to use Open Matchmaking, where player skill has a minimal impact on lobby creation.

Why are players choosing SBMM?

The trend raises an obvious question: why are so many players gravitating toward SBMM when much of the community has criticized it for years?

One possible explanation is skill disparity. Some players may struggle in Open Matchmaking against higher-skilled opponents and prefer more evenly matched games. Others have pointed out that the name “Standard Playlist” could be misleading, potentially making players assume it’s the default or intended way to play.

Community concerns grow

Not everyone is happy with the change. Some community members worry that highlighting SBMM playlists is a step toward phasing out Open Matchmaking altogether. FPS streamer TheTacticalBrit voiced concern on social media, saying, “As predicted, Standard Playlist is now expanded and highlighted and will increasingly grow until the open playlists get killed off.”

Meanwhile, Open Matchmaking will also become the default option in Warzone with the Season 1 update, applying to all non-Casual modes in the playlist—though many players remain skeptical about how much SBMM has truly been reduced.